Letters | On Jack Conway and Steve Beshear

Attorney General Jack Conway.

Applauds Conway

I applaud Attorney General Jack Conway for refusing to appeal the court ruling requiring Kentucky to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. Denying any citizen the right to marry the person they love is outright discrimination and tyranny by the majority. I am equally as appalled at the decision by Gov. Steve Beshear to use outside counsel to appeal this decision.

Using taxpayer money, especially taxes from gay and lesbian citizens, to fund this folly will put the governor on the wrong side of history. Gay marriage is here. I am confident that at some point in the very near future it will be recognized by every state of this great nation. We are not a country that believes in discrimination.

However, the scourge of discrimination is allowed to continue when right thinking persons do not raise their voices. Louisville has a very strong gay community that has given much to this city. Please stand with your LBGT family, friends and co-workers and let Gov. Beshear know that you do not support his appeal. Your voice can make a difference and you will be on the right side of history.

BRENT WATSON

Louisville 40207

Lame duck

Gov. Steve Beshear is a "lame duck" governor now which allows him to champion any cause he deems appropriate without another re-election battle. This position has also allowed him to show the people of Kentucky his true homophobic and discriminatory stance against the ruling made by U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn that Kentucky must recognize same-sex marriages legally performed outside the state.

With the state struggling financially and his asking for tax increases, he will now spend an enormous amount of state money to hire counsel to appeal Judge John G. Heyburn's ruling. Beshear even states these issues will ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, but he still wants to push Kentucky into the battle.

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway said, "We cannot waste the resources of the office of attorney general pursuing a case we are unlikely to win." U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Monday that state attorneys general who believe that laws in their states banning same-sex marriage are discriminatory are not obligated to defend them. Attorneys general in six states - Virginia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, California, Nevada, New Mexico - have declined to defend same-sex marriage bans in their states.

Makes sense, Governor. Do a little more research before you jump on the discrimination bandwagon.

DAVID BURTON

La Grange, Ky. 40031

Crocodile tears

Attorney General Jack Conway's crocodile tears on Tuesday ensured that he'd be the darling of MSNBC and other leftist newscasts for 24 hours after he announced his unwillingness to defend Kentucky's marriage law. The sad truth, however, is that Kentucky voters who spoke overwhelmingly for traditional marriage just a decade ago are without the constitutionally provided voice that is mandated to speak for them.

It is Conway's constitutional duty to be the chief law enforcement officer and to defend the state in litigation. On Tuesday, he stated his belief that the Kentucky law approved by 75 percent of the voters was tantamount to discrimination. When faced with the prospect of defending the voice of the people, he said instead, "That I cannot do." If his personal convictions prohibit him from defending the law, he should step down.

The Constitution does not afford him the option of deciding which laws he wants to defend and which ones he won't. It is the height of hypocrisy that most of those supporting and applauding Conway's decision to act out of conviction, think private citizens who may run photography studios, bakeries or florists should not be protected by the law to follow their own convictions.

JOHN SHINDLEBOWER

Finchville, Ky. 40022

True integrity

Jack Conway shows he is a man of true integrity in declaring that he will not appeal the recent ruling of a federal judge that Kentucky must recognize lawful same-sex marriages from other states. In a benighted state such as this, he may be committing political suicide, but I think this is his finest hour.

I can't say the same for Gov. Steve Beshear - always thinking of the political ramifications. According to the C-J, he's thinking of the aspirations of his son, Andy, who is looking forward to being the next attorney general for Kentucky.

But enough of self-serving politicians in this state.

Conway joins John Yarmuth as a man who puts others ahead of his own personal gains.

PATRICIA W. OLIVER

Louisville 40220

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Letters | On Jack Conway and Steve Beshear

I applaud Attorney General Jack Conway for refusing to appeal the court ruling requiring Kentucky to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.